The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-10
The oltu and the c. & Q.

The City and the G. & Q.
/ Several weeks ago, Mr.. Oberdorfer Of
fered a resolution in the City Council pro-
viding for the appointment Of Commit
tee to visit Richmond and confer with the
authorities of the Newport News and
Mississippi Valley Railroad, in reference
to the re, establishment Of the company IS
shops in Stanton. It will be remembered
that in 1872, the city donated to the rail
road company q large and valuable plat
of land, for which the city paid over
! $1,000. the gift being made upon condi-
ton that the railroad company should es-
tablish and maintain shops, employing a
number Of hands at this point. At least
that was supposed to be the consideration,
but owing to inexcusable carelessDess on
the part of the city, there was no such
| stipulation in the deed to the railroad COM
papy or other evidence of record to show
the conditions of the grant. The company
| simply secured the gift upon q tacit IN
Outstanding that the shops should be built
and shortly after obtaining possession OF
the land, proceeded to erect a section OF
round house. For several years after
wards q number Of hands were employed,
bat subsequently the interests of the road
requiring the bulk Of the work to be done
elsewhere, the Stanton plant was practi
cally abandoned. Since then various un-
successful efforts have been made to have
the land revert to The city, or secure a re-
turn of the shops.
In furtherance Of this object, Mr.. ODER
dorfer IS resolution was offered and adopted.
A committee was appointed, and organized
with Maj. E, Mcmahon as Chairman, and
Newton Argenbright, Clerk. Friday last
the committee, consisting of Maj. i. Nc
Mahon, Chairman, and Messrs. A. c.
Braxton, E. Echols. John McQuaide, w.
II. II. Lynn d. [. Jones and ], Yost. called
upon Gen. Wickham, Vice President of
tie company, and laid before him the OBJ
ieet of their visit. Engineer Dunn was
also invited to participate in the confer
ence. and after an informal discussion
Gen 'Wickham stated in effect as follows ::
At the time Of the donation Of the land
| it was The intention Of the company in
good faith to establish and maintain shops
in Saunton. Otherwise they could not
have afforded, for few thousand. dollars,
to have erected the buildings which now
stand upon the property. AsSthe business
Of Tie read developed, however, it was
found that the location at Stanton was
lily adapted to the uses Of the company as
q repair depot, and as Q consequence small
shops were established at Hinton, Clifton
Forge and Charlottesville, they being the
points upon the run where the services of
the mechanics were. for the greater part,
required. Ii is therefore, altogether I'M
probable that the shops will again be oper
ated at Stanton. 1t is the intention Of
the company, however, about the 18th of
February, to place upon the road q num-
| Der Of new engines. When this is done
| the runs would be so arranged as to neces-
state q change of crews at Stanton, thus
throwing into the city from fifty to one
hundred men. The number Of men would
in some measure depend upon the wishes
Of the engineers themselves, as the COM
pany was disposed in the re arrangement
contemplated to consult to q certain eX-
t mt the convenience of their employees.
For instance, if q valuable engineer had
lis family located at Clifton Forge or
Charlottesville, and desired to spend his
rest period at home, the company would
be disposed to accommodate him where
practicable. 1t is, however, the design Of
the company to make Stanton the point
Of change, as the authorities are satisfied
that the new engines can be operated in
that way with the best results.
In regard TO the extension of Augusta
street, Gen. Wickham stated that he hoped
the city would maturely consider the dam
ger and disadvantages of such an improve
ment before definitely deciding upon it.
He thought there would be no difficulty
between the city and the company agree
ing upon the erection Of an overhead foot
bridge near the depot, and would be glad
to meet the representatives of the cAy in
conference upon that subject.
He assured the committee that the
company was anxious to utilize the
grounds about the Round Honse for man
ufacturing purposes, and that if a plant
could be induced to locate there, the ground
could be secured for a long lease upon the
most accommodating terms. In this re-
spect the interests of the city and company
were identical, as whatever contributed
TO the good Of the one would be beneficial
to tbs other. In the establishment Of
manufacturing industries, Staunton would
be benefited by having within its limits a
number of wage-workers, whilst the ser
vices OF the road would be required to
transport the product Of their labor. He
hoped the citizens would use every effort
to secure Industrial plants, and gave the
assurance that their efforts in that direc-
ton would be heartily seconded by the
road. The interview throughout was eE-
ceedingly pleasant, and we trust and be-
lieye will rebound to the good Of the city.